Function of COP9 signalosome in regulation of mouse oocytes meiosis by regulating MPF activity and securing degradation

The COP9 (constitutive photomorphogenic) signalosome (CSN), composed of eight subunits, is a highly conserved protein complex that regulates processes such as cell cycle progression and kinase signalling. Previously, we found the expression of the COP9 constitutive photomorphogenic homolog subunit 3 (CSN3) and subunit 5 (CSN5) changes as oocytes mature for the first time, and there is no report regarding roles of COP9 in the mammalian oocytes. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the effects of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated transient knockdown of each subunit on the meiotic cell cycle in mice oocytes. Following knockdown of either CSN3 or CSN5, oocytes failed to complete meiosis I. These arrested oocytes exhibited a disrupted meiotic spindle and misarranged chromosomes. Moreover, down-regulation of each subunit disrupted the activity of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) and concurrently reduced degradation of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) substrates Cyclin B1 and Securin. Our data suggest that the CSN3 and CSN5 are involved in oocyte meiosis by regulating degradation of Cyclin B1 and Securin via APC/C.     

钝顶螺旋藻SP1(Spirulina platensis)对集约化养殖尾水氮磷的去除效果

针对集约化养殖模式后期硝酸盐氮和磷酸盐浓度较高的问题,实验设置生物絮团养殖尾水(BFW)和BG11培养液(BGW)两种水体环境,并以池塘常见优势微藻——绿色颤藻OC1(Oscillatoria chlorina)作为对比,研究分析了钝顶螺旋藻SP1(Spirulina platensis)对集约化养殖尾水氮磷的去除效果...     

High Resolution Consensus Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci for Fiber Strength,Length and Micronaire on Chromosome 25 of the Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important agricultural crop that provides renewable natural fiber resources for the global textile industry. Technological developments in the textile industry and improvements in human living standards have increased the requirement for supplies and better quality cotton. Upland cotton 0–153 is an elite cultivar harboring strong fiber strength genes. To conduct quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for fiber quality in 0–153, we developed a population of 196 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between 0–153 and sGK9708. The fiber quality traits in 11 environments were measured and a genetic linkage map of chromosome 25 comprising 210 loci was constructed using this RIL population, mainly using simple sequence repeat markers and single nucleotide polymorphism markers. QTLs were identified across diverse environments using the composite interval mapping method. A total of 37 QTLs for fiber quality traits were identified on chromosome 25, of which 17 were stably expressed in at least in two environments. A stable fiber strength QTL, qFS-chr25-4, which was detected in seven environments and was located in the marker interval between CRI-SNP120491 and BNL2572, could explain 6.53%–11.83% of the observed phenotypic variations. Meta-analysis also confirmed the above QTLs with previous reports. Application of these QTLs could contribute to improving fiber quality and provide information for marker-assisted selection.     

北京棒杆菌天冬氨酸激酶突变体Q316P的酶学性质

【目的】对北京棒杆菌(Corynebacterium pekinense)天冬氨酸激酶(Aspartate kinase,AK)进行改造,期望获得具有较高酶活力且酶活性质改善的高产天冬氨酸族氨基酸的优良突变株,并削弱甚至解除Thr对AK的反馈抑制作用。【方法】利用定点突变技术对Gln(Q)316位点进行突变,高通量筛选获得活力提高明显的突变体,并将其在大肠杆菌BL21中高效表达,对野生型(Wild type,WT)和突变体Q316P AK用镍柱纯化,进行酶动力学及酶学性质研究。【结果】获得突变体Q316P,并在大肠杆菌BL21中成功表达。与野生型相比,突变体Q316P的V_(max)提高8.53倍,n值由2.15降低为1.29,正协同性减弱;最适温度由25°C升高至30°C;最适p H由8.0降低至7.5,半衰期由3.8 h延长至5.0 h;且在实验范围浓度内,底物抑制剂苏氨酸对突变体Q316P表现出激活作用;Q316P AK对金属离子K+和有机溶剂甲醇表现出良好抗性。【结论】获得酶活力提高、酶学性质改善的突变体,并一定程度上解除苏氨酸对AK的反馈抑制,为构建高产天冬氨酸族氨基酸工程菌提供参考。     

刚地弓形虫亲环蛋白基因TgCyP真核表达质粒的构建及其在Hela细胞内的表达

亲环蛋白(cyclophilin,CyP)是一类广泛存在于原核和真核生物体内的胞溶性蛋白,是刚地弓形虫(Toxoplasma gondii)速殖子的主要成分,能够诱导产生IL-12和IFN-γ,在控制弓形虫急性感染过程中起重要作用.本研究根据GenBank发表的TgCyP基因序列,设计并合成一对包含BamHⅠ和EcoRⅠ酶切位点的引物,以cDNA为模板,应用PCR技术扩增TgCyP基因.PCR产物连接到pMD18-T克隆载体.用限制性内切酶BamHⅠ和EcoRⅠ双酶切克隆载体,将TgCyP目的基因克隆到载体pVAX1,构建真核表达质粒pVAX1-TgCyP.将真核表达质粒转染Hela细胞,利用间接免疫荧光检测其在Hela细胞内的表达情况.结果表明扩增的TgCyP基因与GenBank上相应基因序列(U04633.1)的一致性达100%,构建的真核表达质粒pVAX1-TgCyP能在转染的Hela细胞中表达,其表达产物与刚地弓形虫阳性血清具有免疫反应性.本研究表明TgCyP有望作为弓形虫疫苗的候选抗原,将为进一步研究该质粒的动物免疫试验奠定基础.     

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Neurofeedback and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Patients: Pilot Study

Insomnia is a common disease that negatively affects patients both mentally and physically. While insomnia disorder is mainly characterized by hyperarousal, a few studies that have directly intervened with cortical arousal. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a neurofeedback protocol for reducing cortical arousal on insomnia compared to cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I). Seventeen adults with insomnia, free of other psychiatric illnesses, were randomly assigned to neurofeedback or CBT-I. All participants completed questionnaires on insomnia [Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)], sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], and dysfunctional cognition [Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS-16)]. The neurofeedback group showed decreases in beta waves and increases in theta and alpha waves in various areas of the electroencephalogram (EEG), indicating lowered cortical arousal. The ISI and PSQI scores were significantly decreased, and sleep efficiency and sleep satisfaction were increased compared to the pre-treatment scores in both groups. DBAS scores decreased only in the CBT-I group (NF p?=?0.173; CBT-I p?=?0.012). This study confirmed that neurofeedback training could alleviate the symptoms of insomnia by reducing cortical hyperarousal in patients, despite the limited effect in reducing cognitive dysfunction compared to CBT-I.

     

Common Variant rs9939609 in Gene FTO Confers Risk to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background

Fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) has been associated with obesity, especially the common variant rs9939609. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine-metabolic disorder and over 50% of patients are overweight/obese. Thus FTO is a potential candidate gene for PCOS but their relationship is confusing and remains to be clarified in different population with a large sample size.

Method

This study was performed adopting a two-stage design by genotyping SNP rs9939609. The first set comprise of 741 PCOS and 704 control subjects, with data from our previous GWAS. The second phase of replication study was performed among another independent group of 2858 PCOS and 2358 control subjects using TaqMan-MGB probe assay. All subjects are from Han Chinese.

Results

The less meaningful association of FTO rs9939609 and PCOS discovered in GWAS (P = 2.47E-03), was further confirmed in the replication study (P = 1.86E-09). Using meta-analysis, the P-meta value has reached 6.89E-12, over-exceeding the genome-wide association level of 5.00E-8. By combination, the P value was 1.26E-11 and after BMI adjustment it remained significant(P = 1.82E-06). To further elucidate whether this association is resulted from obesity or PCOS per se, the samples were divided into two groups–obese and non-obese PCOS, and the results were still positive in obese group (P obese = 5.81E-05, OR = 1.55), as well as in non-obese PCOS group (P non-obese = 7.06E-04, OR = 1.28).

Conclusion

Variant rs9939609 in FTO is associated with PCOS in Chinese women, not only in obese PCOS subjects, but also in non-obese cases.